Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Las Vegas Sands have announced that Food Bank Singapore has joined the Sands Cares Accelerator programme, aimed at enhancing the impact of non-profits in local communities.
On March 5, MBS and Las Vegas Sands revealed that Food Bank Singapore would be joining their prestigious Sands Cares Accelerator programme. The partnership will provide the non-profit with US$100,000 annually, along with guidance and mentorship to help scale its operations.
As part of its three-year membership, Food Bank Singapore will focus on expanding its Bank Card Programme, which simplifies the food distribution process. The programme provides beneficiaries with physical cards loaded with virtual credits, enabling them to receive food from over 300 distribution partners. Each card contains 100 credits, which can be used for food aid.
However, this manual system requires significant effort from distribution partners, leading to increased operational costs. By joining the Sands Cares Accelerator, Food Bank Singapore aims to digitise this process, streamlining operations and reducing costs. Additionally, the organisation hopes to extend its reach to more beneficiaries, especially youth in tertiary institutions.
Dr. Arthur Chin, Executive Director of Food Bank Singapore, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Joining the Sands Cares Accelerator will enable us to significantly scale an effective way to serve vulnerable members of our community, while emphasising the importance of nutrition.”
Food Bank Singapore, which acquires donated food from wholesalers, supermarkets, and individual donors, redistributes more than two million meals annually. It serves a wide range of beneficiaries, including family centres, residential care homes, and welfare organisations.
The partnership between Food Bank Singapore and MBS dates back to 2016. Since then, MBS has provided continuous support by donating unserved banquet food from the Marina Bay Sands & Convention Centre. MBS employees also regularly volunteer at Food Bank’s warehouse, assisting with sorting donations and inventory management.
The Sands Cares Accelerator programme, launched in 2017, helps non-profits grow their impact through extended funding, mentorship, and tailored support. Over its three-year membership, Food Bank Singapore will work closely with MBS and Sands to further develop its programmes.
Ron Reese, Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs at Las Vegas Sands, noted the success of the Sands Cares Accelerator, saying, “With over US$1.6 million invested, hundreds of hours of facilitation and consulting, and five successful graduates, the Sands Cares Accelerator has become one of our most impactful programmes.”
This announcement follows MBS’ successful completion of its fourth annual Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build with Food Bank Singapore on March 4. Approximately 300 MBS staff, retail tenants, and Sands Hospitality Scholarship recipients assembled 6,000 food kits, which included essentials like rice, biscuits, and canned food, for distribution to those in need.
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